Feel it.

The curtains drew back.

The swell of applause was heartfelt, but tentative. What were they going to see? What had they come to witness? The electricity in the air was subdued. The nerves were there, but the smile clicked into place just as the spotlight came on. There was a show to be made.

On behalf of all the guys in the house, girls, this song is for you. Girls, we love you. We care about you. Even if you don't give a crap about us anymore, that doesn't stop us from always caring, always wanting to be there for you, and always loving you.

So please, listen carefully to what this song has to say. Listen to the words, and learn to know what it's like, for us, when we care about you.

The fisrt few notes rang out into the night air. The soft, delicate sounds of a soul began to spill forth. All pretense of shyness and self-consciousness were thrown out the window. This is it. This is the moment that is always worth waiting for.

Turn out the lights
Just say goodnight to yourself
May I remind you
when you find you're
all alone it's true you've got to be strong
That's when they call you in the night
He's got your picture in his mind
He's got your number on a paper
at his disposal anytime

There are hearts skipping beats. There are vanities that cast furtive glances at their own reflections. There are callous minds that start to question their own choices and logic. Reaching deep down, the music starts to soar, the purveyor of its message in harmony with a melody of its own design.

Is it really true that you'll save yourself for someone who
Loves you for you?
So many times we just give it away to someone who
Someone who..

 A pause. A slight intake of breath. The air is still. But not for long. They're all listening now. They can all hear it. They can all sense the sentiment underneath it all. The pain. The care. The love. It is not easy showing all of this to anyone. It is harder still, to share this with everyone. The spotlight starts to burn.

You met in a bar
The back of a car
And for a moment you felt important
But not in your heart
'Cos my self esteem it's been low
Go ahead and count it's been lower than low
I knwo the feeling of it stealing
Right down from underneath
'Cos I wanna learn

 The emotion is in plain sight now. The words come out as sincere as they could ever be. They listen intently, critically, with both eyes and ears. There is no conscious thought now. It's all happening on its own. The show has taken on its own meaning, has created an existence entirely of its own making. It's beautiful.

That you'll save yourself for someone who
Loves you for you
So many times we just give it away to someone who
Couldn't even remember your name
You save yourself for someone who'll
Love you for you
Love me for me
Keep it away for someone who
Someone who'll
Cherish your name...

  The tears are close to the surface now. Memories. Flashbacks. Tragedies. Highs. Lows. They are all there, all offering themselves to partake in this conflicting festival of an audio visual dance of the heart, mind and soul. The spotlight seems hot. Suffocating. Sweat drips. But it matters not. Everything is out there. Nothing has been hidden. They can make their own judgments. They can draw their own conclusions. But the show has come and gone.

Slow steps, walking off the stage. Applause. The joy of high-5s and pats on the back. The deluge of compliments and handshakes. The moment has come to an end.

Thank you for listening.

Swinburne's Got Talent, and I did an acoustic guitar number. Didn't even make it to the Top 5, which surprised the hell out of everyone, least of all me. But hey, it doesn't matter. I love what I do.

And to those that were there, thank you. :)